BORDEN – Tom Allen’s first full season as IU head coach still ticks him off.

Allen's Hoosiers failed to qualify for a third-straight bowl game. It left him disappointed, but not discouraged.

He told IU fans at Huber’s Orchard and Winery on Wednesday night he challenged his players right before winter break to decide when, not if, they “break through,” because he believes a top 25 team is inevitable.

Never mind the Hoosiers haven't cracked the AP Top 25 since 1994 — the longest such drought among Power 5 programs. But Tom Allen has never hurt for optimism.

Despite missing its bowl goal, IU's defense improved by leaps and bounds under Allen. Now, the onus is on the offense.

“I expect our offense to rise up,” Allen said. “As young as we’re going to be on defense, they’re going to need to provide that leadership off the field, production on the field early in the season as we bring our young guys along on the defensive side of the ball.”

Peyton Ramsey may be the only person in the quarterback room who’s started for IU, but graduate transfer Brandon Dawkins and freshmen Michael Penix Jr. and Reese Taylor will all challenge him for snaps. Morgan Ellison and Cole Gest return as IU’s 1-2 leaders in rushing yards. Nick Westbrook will lead the Hoosiers receiving corps, and the offensive line returns a number of starters — namely Wes Martin and Coy Cronk.

Of the 11 Hoosiers invited to NFL rookie minicamps, just three were offensive players. While Ian Thomas, Richard Lagow and Simmie Cobbs Jr. all played key roles offensively, IU will have a much tougher job replacing the production of defensive stalwarts Tegray Scales, Rashard Fant, Chris Covington, among others.

“They played to a high level,” Allen said. “That’s what you need to do.”

Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Khalil Bryant (29) gets a high five from a coach during IU's Cream and Crimson spring game at Mellencamp Pavilion in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Bobby Goddin/For IndyStar, Bobby Goddin/For IndyStar

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It makes Dameon Willis Jr.’s return to the team in 2018 all the more important, too. There was a chance the linebacker wouldn’t return for his redshirt senior season, but Allen said the time off he’s had allowed his body to recuperate.

“I think that’s huge,” Allen said. “He was our most experienced linebacker coming back. We just had some good heart-to-hearts, really excited about getting him back with us.”

Willis joins Jacob Robinson, Marcelino Ball and A’Shon Riggins as some of the veterans who will work to continue the defensive momentum Allen’s created since he joined the program as Kevin Wilson’s defensive coordinator.

Most of the freshmen from Allen’s 2018 recruiting class arrived on campus Wednesday. A few won’t until July 13. It’s the first time so many of them and their families have all been in town together at the same time, since the nature of college visits usually spreads them out.

The program had a pretty healthy spring, too. No one is injured to the point Allen thinks they'll miss snaps this fall.

“Nothing that we saw going into the season, so I’d say the majority of those guys are pretty healthy right now and are going to be able to participate with our strength and conditioning program when it fires back up,” Allen said. “We’ve got a couple that are still working through some rehab but they’ll be able to do the majority of what we’re going to do on Monday.”